The Strongest Physician

"Urgh…" Paris groaned as the enemy leader slowly crushed his neck.

"Call them out." the Level 60 enemy leader threatened. "Don't waste my time."

"I... won't..."

The carriage had a high-level warding magic cast on it. Unless it was opened from the inside, it would take a while for the masked men to open the doors.

Paris understood that these masked men were not Nelio nation's soldiers. They belonged to a third party and were here to kill Helen and him.

If Paris was caught by the Nelio's soldiers at least Noah and Helen would live. It was better than all three of them being killed by the masked men. For that, Paris would buy time, even if it meant dying here.

"Paris…" Helen was on the verge of tears.

Suddenly, Noah interjected.

"Most don't know, but It isn't necessary to shout the skill name to activate them. We can activate skills manually by moving the body in a particular way."

"Huh?"

"Nothing, I was just talking to myself." Noah opened the door and went outside. "Wait there. I'll return with Paris."

Since Noah would get executed if they were caught, his only way out seemed to be helping Paris and Helen escape.

"Huh?! What are you trying to do!?"

The group of masked men surrounding the carriage shouted while pointing their spears at Noah. They were all at least level 35 with each over 25,000 HP.

At the sight, the Level 60 enemy leader shouted.

"If it isn't the Imperial Physician. Are you betraying our nation to take revenge at the King?"

"Hahaha"

"Ahahaaha"

"Kekeke"

He laughed and the other masked men also began laughing. The enemy leader continued.

"If I recall correctly, the imperial physician's wife was taken by the king, wasn't she? I heard he was infatuated with her. Too bad, she killed herself before the king could have a taste of h—"

"Sigh, shut your mouth. It stinks."

"Y-you!!"

Noah ignored him and snapped his fingers.

Manual Activation: Skill 'Let there be Light'

[ Effect: Robs the vision of all hostile lifeforms in the 20-meter radius for 10 seconds. ]

Flash!

"Ackkk!!!"

A thin layer of light covered the eyes of the masked men surrounding the carriage. They dropped to the ground, holding their eyes and cried in pain.

Noah calmly walked towards the Level 60 enemy leader, Marco.

"Attack him! Whoever kills the Imperial Physician will be rewarded by me!" the enemy leader shouted.

"B-but—!?"

Slash!

A masked man tried to protest and the level 60 leader cut his neck off.

"I'll take the responsibility! Kill him!"

The masked men trembled at the ferocious shout and pounced at Noah.

Noah popped his index finger and whispered. "Invest 40 AP into Movement Speed. Equip title 'Vile Evil Villain'."

Manual Activation: Skill 'Battle Concentration'

[ Movement Speed: 20 → 60 ]

[ Title 'Vile Evil Villain' equipped. You are committing a crime. Activating title effect. +5 to all stats. ]

Due to Hepius' training conditions, Noah wasn't allowed to use his free Attribute Points till now. In fact, Noah hadn't used any AP that came with level-ups since his first level up.

The Battle Concentration and 65 stat Movement Speed created a synergistic effect.

For Noah the enemies were moving at a snail's pace. He dodged their attacks easily and continued moving forward while tapping on their forehead once.

Manual Activation: Skill 'Mind Corruption'

[ Effect: Casts a Tier 1 mind degradation spell on targeted individuals, causing them to attack anyone in the vicinity randomly. ]

The masked men foamed from their mouths and began attacking each other. They created a bloodbath as they killed their fellow masked men.

However, Noah kept his eyes on the Level 60 leader and moved towards him.

Swoosh!!!

Swoosh!!!

Suddenly, multiple fireballs were fired at Noah from the forest. They created a cage which made dodging impossible.

Noah raised his arm and drew a house with 5 strokes in the air.

Manual Activation: Skill 'Dispel'

[ Effect: Erases all Tier 1 and below magic in 5-meter radius. ]

The fireballs disappeared into thin air.

Noah continued walking.

"St-stop there! Or I'll kill him!" the enemy leader shouted while pointing the sword at Paris' neck. His confidence disappeared just like the fireballs when their attacks failed to put a scratch on Noah.

Paris was already knocked unconscious due to lack of breath. He thus wasn't able to resist.

"Kill him then."

Noah stopped in front of Marco.

"Do y-you think I'm bluffi—"

"But if he dies, your chances of escaping alive will also fall to zero." Noah cut his words coldly.

His figure seemed like an immovable mountain to Marco, the leader of the masked men. Marco looked at the ones who had been blinded earlier and signaled them to help him.

Their eyesight had returned, but they couldn't help their leader when they saw their own allies killing each other in madness.

The men who had spent years in battles shook with fear when Noah defeated them so easily as if he was snatching toys from children.

"There's no way you are that worthless Imperial Physician! Who are you!?" Marco shouted and threw Paris away.

He swung his sword, attacking Noah in desperation.

[ Marco is using Skill 'Mountain Crusher' ]

Marco used his strength as a Level 60 opponent and his sword descended with the fury of a mountain to split Noah in half.

***

<Past: One day after Noah reached Level 25>

"That's… the first step?" Noah questioned with an uncertain expression.

He couldn't believe Hepius' words. After all, Hepius was supposed to teach him the technique to take down Heracles, but he heard something even more absurd.

{Indeed, the first step of the strongest technique is 'Bluffing'. Show thy enemies an overwhelming sight. Make them fear you, let them be in awe. Even if thy are weaker, bluff as if thou art invincible!}

Noah nodded absent-mindedly.

The first step wasn't difficult. He was capable of doing it with the class skills he gained after reaching Level 25.

The problem was the second step. It was… too easy.

"Are you sure it's going to work? If it fails, I'll die a dog's death."

{Stop worrying, mine shameless-dimwitted disciple. Just remember, the second step comes before the first step. Shouldst thou master this technique, thine enemies won't even know what hit them!}

***

<Present>

[ Marco is using Skill 'Mountain Crusher' ]

Marco used his strength as a Level 60 opponent and his sword decreased with the fury of a mountain to split Noah in half.

In response, Noah… did nothing.

The sword hit his shoulder and an alert popped up.

[ You have lost 0 HP ]

Clink! Clang!

Marco's sword fell from his hands and he plopped to the ground. He stared at Noah with absolute horror. His eyes turned bloodshot and he started stuttering.

"Ho-how? Wh-why? No…"

"Shhh, you've done enough. You can sleep now."

Noah placed his palm over Marco's head and…

Manual Activation: Sage Resurrection

"Inverse"

[ -55,000 HP ]

[ Level 60 Heavy Swordsman 'Marco' slayed ]

…defeated the Level 60 warrior.